Wasps 36 Chiefs 29

Wasps 36

Exeter Chiefs 29

Mark Stevens at the Ricoh Arena

Gareth Steenson landed a decisive drop-goal with the last kick of the game to ensure Exeter Chiefs grabbed a vital bonus point from their Aviva Premiership away-day at Wasps.

Having trailed 26-16 at the break, Rob Baxter’s side produced a much-improved performance after the break to come within striking distance of pulling off victory at the impressive Ricoh Arena.

As it was, Joe Simpson’s late try ensured Wasps boosted their own push for the end of season play-offs with just two rounds of the season remaining.

Earlier, the home side had struck through an early Christian Wade try and a Penalty Try, whilst home favourite Andy Goode weighed in with 18 points alongside a further penalty from Elliott Daly.

In reply, Will Chudley and Thomas Waldrom crossed for Exeter’s two tries, both of which were converted by Henry Slade, who also added four penalties.

Back in top flight action for the first time since their European semi-final exit to Gloucester, Baxter’s side arrived in Coventry looking to maintain their impressive Premiership form of late

Ahead of kick-off, the visitors made just one change to their starting line-up from that which went down at Kingsholm. Injury meant full-back Phil Dollman sat out on this occasion and Byron McGuigan was brought in to fill the No.15 jersey.

On the bench, Damian Welch returned after recent ankle surgery, whilst Alex Brown’s failed fitness test meant a late call-up for long-serving prop Brett Sturgess.

Wasps, meanwhile, made a plethora of changes from the side that saw off winless London Welsh on their last league outing.

In the backs, speedster Wade was back in place of Tom Varndell, who scored a hat-trick of tries against the Exiles, whilst up front there were inclusions for Italian duo Carlo Festuccia and Lorenzo Cittadini; Kearnan Myall came into the second-row with No.8 Nathan Hughes also returning after his recent suspension.

And it was Hughes who helped the home side get off to a flying start. Having held up Dave Ewers at the kick-off, Wasps used the resultant scrum to sting the Chiefs with an early score. Hughes picked from the base of the set-piece, brushed off two defenders before feeding Wade, who squeezed over in the right-hand corner for the score, which Goode duly converted from the touchline.

Home cheers lasted only a matter of minutes as the Chiefs restored parity on five minutes. Having positioned themselves deep in the Wasps half thanks to a Slade penalty kicked to the corner; Kai Horstmann cleaned up a rather scrappy Exeter line-out from which Chudley was able to snipe through a yawning gap in the home defence to claimed there converted try.

It was a lively opening to the game from both sides, both of whom appeared willing to attack at every opportunity. The Chiefs threatened with a couple of raids, before a dropped scrum on halfway allowed Wasps to reclaim their lead when Daly plundered a lengthy penalty from halfway.

Again, the home lead proved short-lived as within minutes the Chiefs had levelled, fly-half Slade easing over a penalty after winger Ian Whitten had been floored with a high tackle midway inside the Wasps half.

But again no sooner had the Devonians brought parity on the scoreboard, they allowed Wasps to nudge themselves back in front with another penalty, the experienced Goode slotting a straight-forward effort after Sam Hill was pulled up for holding on in the tackle as he looked to clear his lines.

Two quickfire penalties from Goode further extended the home lead, before Slade showed he was equally as deadly with the kicking tee, reducing the arrears back to three points with two successful kicks of his own, the first a real gem from bang on halfway.

Now within touching distance of their rivals, the Chiefs looked to power through before the half time interval. However, there hopes were dealt an untimely blow when Thomas Waldrom was sent to the sidelines for ten minutes by referee Matt Carley, who adjudged the experienced No.8 had deliberately knocked down an intended Wasps pass.

With the man advantage, Wasps looked to attack once more and with the last play of the half they were rewarded when Carley awarded the hosts a penalty try after the Chiefs struggled to contain a powerful shunt just five metres from their own line. Goode again converted to give his side a ten-point cushion at the turn.

HALF TIME WASPS 26 EXETER CHIEFS 16

Up against it somewhat, the Chiefs knew they needed a strong start to the second period. From the outset, they tore into their rivals with a gusto that was sadly missing for much of the opening 40 minutes. Strong running from Horstmann, Ewers and Mitch Lees created a decent platform, but just as centre Sam Hill was set to pounce, the visitors turned the ball over deep inside the Wasps 22 and the chance was lost.

Still with Waldrom watching from the cooler, the Chiefs had to withstand another decent attacking raid from Wasps when the powerful Hughes picked a lovely line through the middle, only to see his intended offload fall gratefully into the arms of Whitten, who was scrambling back in defence.

Having survived the threat, it was then the turn of the Chiefs to hit back, Waldrom leading the charge on his return, before McGuigan’s clever counter caused no end of problems for the Midlanders before the ball was knocked on again in a key attacking position.

For all of Exeter’s positive intent, the scoreboard remain untouched and it was Wasps who extended their lead when Goode slotted a fourth penalty of the afternoon.

Now with a mountain to climb, the Chiefs threw on fresh blood in a bid to force their way back into the contest. Within an instance the fresh stock won a scrum penalty five metres out, then another penalty just yards from the home line created another favourable opening for Baxter’s side to strike.

This time the visitors duly made it count, winning the close-range line-out and then using a series of pick-and-go drives to propel Waldrom over for his 14th Premiership try of the campaign.

Slade landed the extras to that score, before notching another lengthy penalty, as the Chiefs suddenly had the bit between their teeth entering into the final quarter.

With little to choose between either side, it was defences that reigned supreme as the minutes ticked by at a rate of knots. Exeter had their moments, but with just four minutes remaining they were hit with a sucker punch, Simpson collecting just inside his own half before setting off on a dazzling run that saw outpace the Chiefs defence. Goode pinged over the conversion - at the second attempt - to put Wasps back in front by ten with time all but up.

From the restart, though, the Chiefs were handed a golden opportunity to salvage something from the contest as Wasps infringed, but sadly replacement Steenson could not capitalise, firing his first punt at goal wide of the mark.

The Irishman, though, has a brilliant knack of delivering when called upon and with one last throw of the dice, the visitors grabbed a vital bonus point when the Dunganndon-Born marksman drilled a drop-goal with the final kick of an absorbing contest.

For the Chiefs, it all but ensures Champions Cup rugby will be returning to Sandy Park next term, but the more telling factor is making sure Exeter finish with a bang - and that means looking to pick off Saracens (away) and Sale Sharks (home) in their final matches of the regular season.

Wasps: A Masi; C Wade, E Daly (R Miller 80), A Leiua, S Tagicakibau; A Goode, J Simpson; M Mullan (S McIntyre 59), C Festuccia (E Shervington 55), L Cittadini (J Cooper-Wooley 50, Cittadini 69); J Gaskell (J Cannon 59), K Myall; A Johnson (G Thompson 50), J Haskell (capt), N Hughes. Replacements (not used):  C Davies, A Lozowski

Tries - Wade, Penalty Try, Simpson; Conversions - Goode (3); Penalties - Daly, Goode (4)

Chiefs: B McGuigan; I Whitten (T James 59), J Nowell (T James 43-44), S Hill, M Jess; H Slade (G Steenson 77), W Chudley (D Lewis 77); B Moon (C Rimmer 49-53), J Yeandle (L Cowan-Dickie 55), T Francis (C Rimmer 70); D Mumm (capt), M Lees (D Welch 55); D Ewers, K Horstmann (T Johnson 59), T Waldrom. Replacement (not used): B Sturgess,

Tries - Chudley, Waldrom; Conversions - Slade (2); Penalties - Slade (4); Drop-Goal - Steenson

Yellow Card: Waldrom

Referee: M Carley

Attendance: 16,712

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v Saracens (A), Aviva Premiership, Sunday, May 10 (2pm)